Dresden

Dresden is the capital of the German state Saxony in the far east of Germany, near the Czech border. It is situated in a valley on the river Elbe.

Dresdden was known as a very rich and ancient city with a beautiful baroque and rococo city centre, home to many ancient Kings of Saxony. In World War II, the British and American bombing destroyed the entire city centre and killed around 25,000 people. After the war reconstruction and restoration took place to rescue parts of the historic city centre, e.g. the Semperoper and the Dresdener Frauenkirche.

“Before and since German reunification in 1990, Dresden was and is a cultural, educational, political and economic center of Germany and Europe. The Dresden University of Technology is one of the 10 largest universities in Germany and part of the German Universities Excellence Initiative.” (Wikipedia).

About the Frauenkirche:

“Obligatory for everyone coming to Dresden for the first time (or even second or third…) is a visit to the Frauenkirche. Bombed heavily during World War II, and reconstructed over thirteen years, the church symbolises the pride of Dresden’s inhabitants for their picturesque city. The “Church of our Lady” often holds concerts, lectures or similar events.” (Source: German Missions in the UK)

“The reconstruction of the Frauenkirche has made this church a symbol of peace and reconciliation. It has so many stories to tell and tries to encourage people – day by day.” (Source: Frauenkirche Dresden)

For more information please visit Frauenkirche Dresden Official Homepage

 

About the Semperoper:

The Semperoper is an ancient opera house built in 1841 and located near the River Elbe in the historic city centre. It’s the opera house of the Saxon State Opera and the concert hall of the Saxon state Orchestra. It has seen a long list of premieres such as the major works by Richard Strauss and Richard Wagner.

It was almost completely destroyed during WWII with only the exterior shell remaining. It was restored during the years after the war and is nowadays used as dresden’s main opera house again. Apart from it’s function it is also an important landmark for the city.

For more information and tickets visit Semperoper Dresden Official Website.

 

About the Kunsthofpassage:

“Kunsthofpassage (Kunsthof Arcade) is one of the most artistic places just off Gorlitzerstrasse in Neustadt. The hidden maze consists of five redeveloped backyards, each of which is arranged under a different creative approach. The backyards are complemented by an interesting choice of shops and cafés. It is the perfect place to spend your afternoons strolling around.” (Source: German Missions in the UK )

For more information please visit: http://www.dresden.de/kunsthofpassage

 

For more information about Dresden and to plan your trip please visit dresden.de!

You have already been to Dresden and would like to share your experiences, personal tipps and photos with us and others? Get in touch with us and let us know!

For further information please visit the websites of the Goethe Institute and the German Embassy in London.